Golf-practice apparatus



R. GRAY.

GOLF PRACTICE APPARATUS. APPLICATION HLED FEB. 17. 1921.

- sliced or pulled balls.

Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

STATES ROBERT GRAY, OF GLASGOW, SCOTLAND.

GOLF-PRACTICE APPARATUS.

Application filed February 17, 1921. Serial No. 445,842.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT GRAY, a subject of the Kin of'Great Britain, residing at Glasgow, Scotfand, have invented a certain new and useful Golf-Practice Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for practising golf strokes in a parlour or other interior, or in a garden or elsewhere, a captive or a free ball being used as may be preferred.

The apparatus comprises a stand or frame constituting an upright structure, a back supported by the structure, and strips or screenssuspended from the top of the structure, said back and screens being formed of soft and yielding material, such as canv'as or other fabric. Preferably the frame is joint ed or otherwise fitted together so as to be collapsible for transport and the strips or screens, which form targets, are, or may be, suspended in overlapping relationship to one another.

A floor piece or strip may be secured, at one end, to the frame and be laid down in front thereof in such manner that it lies for a portion of its length at a slight upward inclination. This strip forms the course or fairway and a hole or pocket for putting may be arranged therein, preferably, behind the aforesaid screens. Canvas or other wings may be arranged at the sides of the structure for the purpose of catching ball is used it may be attached at both sides of the fairway when practising driving and other shots and may be detached when putting.

One form or embodiment of the invention is illustrated, by way of example, on the accompanying drawing, whereon Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus as arranged for use when practising all strokes but putting strokes.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view seen from the rear and showing the apparatus arranged for practising putting strokes. The figure is drawn to a reduced scale.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the frame members A in the extended osition and Fig. A is an end view of same co apsed.

Fig. 5 is a detail of one of the cross-bars for connecting the frame members.

In the drawing, A, A, indicate apair of frame members spaced a suitable distance If a captive is made in two parts hinged together at 1, 1

so as to be collapsible as at Fig. 4. Secured to the ends of the top bar B, are bent rods 2 which engage in eyelets 3 arranged on the front of each frame member on either side of the joint between the upper and lower portions thereof. It will be seen, therefore, that when the top bar B is in position the depending rods 2 look the side frames against collapse. The back bar C is attached to the rear of the frame members. A, A, at a distance above the base, in similar manner to the front bar B (see Figs. 1 and 2).

A canvas or other back 4 isv attached at opposite ends to the top and bottom bars B and C and also to each frame member, as at 5, 5, between the bars. In front of the back 4 and freely suspended from the top thereof are a number ofcanvas or other screens 6 arranged to overlap one another. These screens are sewn or otherwise secured to the back 4 at the top thereof and hang freely down on to the course or.fairway which consists of a canvas or other strip 7 attached, at one end, to the back bar C and extending at a downward inclination in front of the frame. The strip 7 is stiffened along each side by a lath or equivalent 8 and is also hooked by a short chain orthe like 9 to each frame member. The forward end of the strip 7 is simply laid along the ground.

At each side of the strip 7 are canvas or other wings 10, 11 which may be sewn thereto and also to the back 4.

When a captive ball is used it is preferably attached to slip rings or equivalent 12 freely mounted on loops or runners 13 along both sides of the stri 7. A hole or pocket 14 is made in the strip 7 preferably behind the screens 6 and an inclined channel 15 of suitable material is provided below same.

To facilitate transport the cross bars B and O are each made in sections held together by sleeve couplings 16 in the manner shown in Fig. 5.

When practising driving and other shots the screens 6 are arranged as in Fig. 1 and mats (not shown). are placed upon the course or fairway at the front thereof. The player may stand upon one of the mat and tee, the ball on another.-- The shot is played in the direction of the screens 6 the second screen from the right (Fig. 1) preferably representing a continuation of the fairway and bein coloured difl'erently from the others which may represent the rough. 'When the ball strikes a screen it loses its momentum and falls down on to the inclined course 7 whence it rolls back to the player. Should the ball be sliced or pulled it is caught by the screen 10 or 11 as the case may be. The screen 11 is cut away as shown to allow the player to carry through the swing of his club and finish the stroke properly. Sufficient space is left between each frame member A and the edge or corner where the adj acent wing meets the back 4 to prevent the ball meeting any solid resistance when driven into the corner.

When putting, the screens 6 are thrown back over the bar B, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby exposin the hole It to the view of the player. 'Vhen the ball is putted into the hole it is directed by the channel 15 to one side of the apparatus ready for use again. It will be apparent that the apparatus can be readily collapsed and stowed into small space. The fastenings 5 and 9 are first loosened, then the bars B, C, are withdrawn from the frame members A after which the parts thereof can be uncoupled from the sleeves and withdrawn from the back 4. The stifieners 7 in the strip 6 can also be withdrawn and the back 4, together with the screens 6, wings l0 and 11 and strip 7, can then be rolled or folded up.

Having now fully described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Apparatus of the character stated, comprising an upright structure, a back of soft and yielding material supported by said structure, and. screens of soft and ylelding material suspended from the top of said structure in advance of said back and constituting targets.

2. Apparatus of the character stated, comprising an upright structure, a back of soft and yielding material supported by said structure, and targets of soft and ylelding material suspended from the top of said structure in overlapping relationship and in advance of said back.

3. Apparatus of the character stated, comprising a collapsible frame adapted to form an upright structure, and a pluralit of fabric screens depending from the top of said structure and adapted to form narrow targets.

4i. Apparatus of the character stated, comprising a frame adapted to form an upright structure, a back of soft and yielding material supported by said structure, a floor piece constituting a fairway extending forwardly of said back, and target screens of soft and yielding material depending freely from the top of said structure and capable of being turned over to rest on said back.

5. Apparatus of the character stated, comprising a collapsible frame adapted to form an upright structure, a forwardly inclined back of soft and yielding material supported by said structure, a floor piece constituting a fairway extending forwardly of said back at a downward inclination, and target screens of soft and yielding material depending freel from the top of said structure in overlapping relationship.

6. Apparatus of the character stated, comprising a frame constituting an upright structure, a fabric back supported by said structure, a floor piece extending forwardly of said back at a downward inclination, narrow fabric targets depending freely from the top of said structure, and forwardly extending side wings for catching sliced or pulled balls.

7. Apparatus of the character stated, comprising an upright structure an inclined fabric back supported by said structure, a floor piece constituting a fairway extending forwardly of said back at a downward inclination and having an opening therein constituting a putting hole in proximity to said back, and fabric screens arranged in advance of said back and depending freely fromthe top of said structure to a position at or near the floor piece.

8. Apparatus of the character stated, comprising a frame constituting an upright structure, a fabric back supported by said structure, a floor piece constituting a fairway extending forwardly of said back at a downward inclination and having an opening therein constituting a putting hole in proximity to said back, fabric screens depending freely from the to a of said struc ture, and forwardly exten ing side wings for catching sliced or pulled balls.

9. Apparatus of the character stated, comprising a frame constituting an upright structure, a fabric back supported by said structure, an inclined floor piece extending forwardly of said back at a downward inclination constituting a fairway and having an opening therein constituting a putting hole in proximity to said back, an inclined channel disposed below said opening and fabric screens depending freely from the top of said structure down on to said inclined floor piece.

10. Apparatus of the character stated, comprising a frame constituting an upright structure, a fabric back supported by said structure, a door piece extending forwardly of said back at a downward inclination and having an opening therein in proximity to said back, an inclined channel disposed below said opening, fabric screens depending freely from the top of said structure, and

forwardly extending side wings of yielding 7 for engaging and holding said members in their extended position at a fixed distance apart, a fabric back held between said cross bars, and narrow fabric targets depending from said top cross bar in overlapping relationshi and in a position before said back.

12. pparatus of the character stated com rising collapsible frame members, top and ottom cross bars, means on said bars for engagin and holding said members in their extende position at afixed distance apart, a back of soft and yielding material held between said cross bars, screen targets of soft and yielding material suspended from said top cross bar, and forwardly extending side Wings also of soft and yielding material for catching sliced or pulled balls.

13. Apparatus of the character stated, comprising a pair of collapsible frame members, top and bottom cross bars each made in parts jointed together, means on said bars for engaging said frame members and holding them at a fixed distance apart to form an upright structure, and fabric strips constituting targets carried by the frame, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT GRAY.

Witnesses:

STANLEY DUNLOP, N. G. PEARSON. 

